Keith's Theatre

The Keith’s Theatre in Campello was included in the MGM Theatre Photograph and Report project. There is an exterior photo dated April 1941. The house had a big impressive facade at least 3 stories high, with a center entrance. There were 3 pairs of double doors above which was a 2-sided triangular marquee, and above that was a vertical blade sign. It’s not possible to read what’s on left panel of the marquee, but the right panel has “March of Time” and “Enamelware”. Above the doors is a sign reading something like “Matinees at 2PM” and “Evenings at 7…”. There are rows of poster cases on either side of the entrance. The Report states that Keith’s is at 1030 Main St. in Brockton; that it has been playing MGM films for 4 years; that it’s over 15 years old and is in Poor condition (but the exterior appears to be in good condition); and has 550 seats on the main floor and 240 in the balcony,total: 790 seats. Keith’s and the Rialto Theatre, also on Main Street, were the only two Brockton theatres included in the MGM Report project. A friend, now deceased, who worked for E.M. Loew theatres from the late-1930s to the early-1950s, told me that around 1939 he and E.M.’s brother were sent to Brockton to inspect Keith’s, but I don’t know the final result of their visit.

In the 1927 Film Daily Yearbook, under “Campbell Mass.” there is a Keith’s Theatre listed with 950 seats. I assume that they mean this theater in Campello.